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flawless1k's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
frankb12's review against another edition
4.0
Very good story with lots of twists surprises. Leaves you guessing till the very end as to who the bad guy was.
ashleylm's review against another edition
4.0
Very much a page-turner rather than a literary masterpiece, but despite being darker and more violent than is my ideal, I'm still drawn in rather than repelled. I'm sort of a tea-with-the-vicar person, so it's remarkable that the first book was about soldiers and a gang of bank robbers, the second was about drug smuggling, and the third about a serial killer, none of which particularly appeal, and yet I gobble them up like so much popcorn.
At a time when, while reading so many books, my reaction is "yawn, who cares, next one," this is fairly remarkable!
In case in the future I forget which one this is, it's the one where Bosch is being sued by the family of the fellow he shot (the shooting which had instigated his removal from his preferred department prior to the first book), and there are suspicions (not from Bosch!) that he shot the wrong man.
(Note: I'm a writer, so I suffer when I offer fewer than five stars. But these aren't ratings of quality, they're a subjective account of how much I liked the book: 5* = an unalloyed pleasure from start to finish, 4* = enjoyed it, 3* = readable but not thrilling, 2* = disappointing, and 1* = hated it.)
At a time when, while reading so many books, my reaction is "yawn, who cares, next one," this is fairly remarkable!
In case in the future I forget which one this is, it's the one where Bosch is being sued by the family of the fellow he shot (the shooting which had instigated his removal from his preferred department prior to the first book), and there are suspicions (not from Bosch!) that he shot the wrong man.
(Note: I'm a writer, so I suffer when I offer fewer than five stars. But these aren't ratings of quality, they're a subjective account of how much I liked the book: 5* = an unalloyed pleasure from start to finish, 4* = enjoyed it, 3* = readable but not thrilling, 2* = disappointing, and 1* = hated it.)
daif's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
cnorbury's review against another edition
3.0
Not one of Connelly's best stories, but solid. Bosch is a likable if a somewhat depressing MC. He pushes the envelope of the law to the max, and sometimes gets burned, but he usually gets the bad guys, as he did in this case.
However, I suspected the real Follower (copycat serial killer) about halfway through the book. Connelly dropped that character's name a few too many times without bringing him into a conversation or having a good reason to mention him. The two red herrings that Connelly gave us were good but seemed a bit too obvious to be the killer.
However, I suspected the real Follower (copycat serial killer) about halfway through the book. Connelly dropped that character's name a few too many times without bringing him into a conversation or having a good reason to mention him. The two red herrings that Connelly gave us were good but seemed a bit too obvious to be the killer.
laurennb's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
stubborn_girl's review against another edition
3.0
This book got me out of reading rut that resulted from COVID-19 and the changes it precipitated in my life. I'd been waiting on Abbadon's Gate to become available again from the library and had gotten this one in a deal on Audible and like the narrator, Dick Hill. For me, a narrator makes or breaks an audio book, and the best ones come with a kindle read along. I'm not the best audio learner so it helps to have the text to fall back on.
I don't know if The Concrete Blonde is a great detective story or not. It definitely kept me guessing. They were a lot of plot twists and turns. I found Bosch's relationship with Sylvia annoying and I hope it was going to go to the wayside like Odd Thomas' relationship with Storm or Stormy.
Bosch is an interesting character: cranky, grumpy and super smart. I'm definitely going to keep going with the series to see what he does next. It seems that 2020 is the year of the series for me.
I don't know if The Concrete Blonde is a great detective story or not. It definitely kept me guessing. They were a lot of plot twists and turns. I found Bosch's relationship with Sylvia annoying and I hope it was going to go to the wayside like Odd Thomas' relationship with Storm or Stormy.
Bosch is an interesting character: cranky, grumpy and super smart. I'm definitely going to keep going with the series to see what he does next. It seems that 2020 is the year of the series for me.